ABSTRACT

Phil Johnson-Laird's theory of mental models has proved to be an influential development in the cognitive sciences. This theory aims to provide a detailed account of both reasoning and inference on the one hand, and language on the other. It can therefore be regarded as a step toward the much-sought-after unified theory of cognition.; This book provides an overview of mental models research. Some of the contributors were collaborators or former graduate students of Johnson-Laird, and between them they cover the main strands of mental models theory. After an appreciation of Johnson-Laird, the book covers topics including language Processing, Reasoning, Inference, The Role Of Emotions, And The Impact Of mental illnesses on thought processes.

chapter 1|18 pages

Contextuality

chapter 2|16 pages

The Interpretation of Words

chapter 3|18 pages

The Other Side of Mental Models

Theories of Language Comprehension

chapter 7|19 pages

Models, Arguments, and Decisions

chapter 13|27 pages

Interaction and Mental Models of Physics Phenomena

Evidence from Dialogues between Learners

chapter 15|14 pages

The Blues and the Abstract Truth

Music and Mental Models

chapter 16|9 pages

Afterword. The Model Theory of Reasoning

Current Standing and Future Prospects